"And all the little girls wear them in winter. Still, I suppose Old Boston must have been cold and bleak in winter."
"It was not so nearly an island."
There was a good deal of work to do on Friday, so shopping was put off to the first of the week. Doris proved eagerly helpful and dusted very well. In the afternoon Aunt Priscilla came over for her cup of tea.
"Dear me," she began with a great sigh, "I wish I had some nice young girl that I could train, and who would take an interest in things. Polly is too old. And I don't like to send her away, for she was good enough when she had any sense. There's no place for her but the poorhouse, and I can't find it in my conscience to send her there. But I'm monstrous tired of her, and I do think I'd feel better with a cheerful young person around. You're just fortunate, 'Lizabeth, that you and Betty can do for yourselves."
"It answers, now that the family is small. But last year I found it quite trying. And Betty must have her two or three years' training at housekeeping."
"Oh, of course. I'm glad you're so sensible, 'Lizabeth. Girls are very flighty, nowadays, and are in the street half the time, and dancing and frolicking round at night. I really don't know what the young generation will be good for!"
Mrs. Leverett smiled. She remembered she had heard some such comments when she was young, though the lines were more strictly drawn then.
"Has Winthrop been over to see his charge? How does he feel about it? Now, if she had been a boy——"
"He was up to tea last night, and he and Foster have been arranging the business this morning. Foster is to be joint trustee, but Winthrop will be her guardian."
"What will he do with a girl! Why, she'll set Recompense crazy."